Name:	holx_AccruedContingentConsideration
Namespace Prefix:	holx_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

Accrued Contingent Earn Out Amount Current

No definition available.

Name:	holx_AccruedContingentEarnOutAmountCurrent
Namespace Prefix:	holx_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

Amount Assessed In Damages

No definition available.

Name:	holx_AmountAssessedInDamages
Namespace Prefix:	holx_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

Fair value, as of the respective balance sheet date, of potential payments under the contingent consideration arrangement including cash and shares. The contingent consideration liability is remeasured at each reporting period through the statements of operations

No definition available.

Name:	holx_BusinessAcquisitionContingentConsiderationAtFairValueAtBalanceSheetDate
Namespace Prefix:	holx_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

Business Acquisition Contingent Consideration Payment Period

No definition available.

Name:	holx_BusinessAcquisitionContingentConsiderationPaymentPeriod
Namespace Prefix:	holx_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	holx_ContingentConsiderationEarnoutPaymentsLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	holx_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Deferred Payment Related To Acquisition

No definition available.

Name:	holx_DeferredPaymentRelatedToAcquisition
Namespace Prefix:	holx_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

Represents the cash payment of contingent consideration to the former shareholders of the acquired company.

No definition available.

Name:	holx_PaymentOfContingentConsideration
Namespace Prefix:	holx_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

Amount of potential cash payments that could result from the contingent consideration arrangement.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 141

-Paragraph 51

-Subparagraph f

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Name:	us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionContingentConsiderationPotentialCashPayment
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

This element represents the amount of any change, including any differences arising upon settlement, recognized during the reporting period in the value of a liability, arising from an item of contingent consideration, assumed in a business combination.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 805

-SubTopic 30

-Section 50

-Paragraph 4

-Subparagraph (a)(1)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=7488404&loc=d3e7008-128479

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 141R

-Paragraph 72

-Subparagraph b

-Clause 1

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.